Electrical connecting device.



F. e. ALLEN, ELECTRlCA'L cnuuzcnu'e DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 3. 915- Patented De0.12,1916.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET F. G. ALLEN. ELECTBIQAL' CONNECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATJQN FILED NOV. 3, 19M) Patented 1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATEiliniTENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. ALLEN, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTIt-ICAL CONNECTING DEVICE.

Application filed November 3, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Connecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical connecting devices of the plug and socket type, and more particularly to that part of a: connecting device of this kind which is adapted to be inserted into a socket or outlet.

The objects of the invention are to provide a plug of improved construction for a connecting device of this kind which can be insorted endwise into a'lamp socket or outlet a sectional and locked in place therein by turning the plug relatively to the socket through a partial revolution; also to improve the construction of electrical connecting devices of this kind in the respects hereinafter specilied.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a connecting device having an attachment plug embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views of the attachment plug on line 33, Fig. 2, showing the parts of the plug in differentpositions. Fig. 5 is atran'sverse sectional view thereof on line 55, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an end view thereof. Fig. 7 is an elevation thereof on the same scale as Fig. 1, showing the parts in different positions. Figrll is a perspective ,view of a retaining ring of the plug. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the retaining ring, showing the means for locking the ends of the ring. Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary vertical,

sections of the plug, showing the manner in which the central contact piece is secured thereto. Fig..12 isan elevation ofan'electric' lamp having a connecting plug of inodified construction. tional elevation of the plug, on an enlarged scale. Figs. 14 and 15 aretransverse sections thereof on line 1414, Fig. 13, showing tlr'c parts of the lug in different positions. Figjlfi is an end be 'iof the plug.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 13 is a central sec-.

view thereof. Fig. 17 is elevation of the split shell of the plug,.on thesanie scale as Fig. 12. Fig. 18 l is-an 'elevationof the-eccentric shell or memengage ,witlran inwardly extending flan go Patented Dec. 12, 1916. Serial No. 59,358.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1--11, A represents a socket or outlet of the kind commonly used and which has an internally threaded part a adapted to engage with a correspondingly threaded part of a plug, and a central .contact member a." with which a part of the plug is adapted to engage. The socket maybe of any usualor suitable construction and of itself consti tutes no part of this invention. The plug, comprises the usual core or insulating body portion B which may be made of porcelain or other suitable insulating material and which is formed with the usual holes or passages for the conductors which are connected to the attachment plug. A conductor 6 passes through a hole I) terminating at one end in the contact end of the insulating member, and a conductor 6 passes into a hole 6 terminating at one end in the side of the insulating member. Both holes 6' and b converge and form an enlarged passage 1) terminating in one end of the plug. The core is preferably provided with the usual knurled portion 6 which facilitates the handling of the same. The peripheral portion of the insulating core or memberhas a plurality of eccentric or cam faces C, three being providedin the construction shown. D represents a split or expansible contact member, ring or shell having inwardly projecting bearing members or parts (1 adapted to engage the cam faces to, cause the split shell to expand or contract, The insulatlng member is also provided on its periphery with grooves or depressions 0 which .are arranged between the eccentric faces, and into which the bearing members d are adapted to enter when the split sleeve is contracted. The'split sleeve is preferably provided with screw threads dvvhich are similarto those provided on the usualEdison type oflamp movement thereof relatively to the plug,

those shown comprising a mete ng ring or.- collar' E secured in a shallow annular groove e formed onthe contact-end of the insulating member or 'core, and having an outwardly extending flange e which is adapted of the'splitshell. The two flanges c and e are preferably rovided with radialslits e which prevent tile fl nges from stiffening the collar E and the split shell D to such an extent as to prevent the expansion and contraction of the collar and sleeve. The collar E is preferably split so that it can be read ily removed from or placed on the insulating member and is provided with any suitable means for. connecting the ends of the collar, the means shown comprising a lip or projection c*"which is punched out of the collar near one end thereof. and which is adapted to engage in a hole or recess 6 in the other end of the collar. The collar E is made of conducting material and is provided with an arm F which extends into the hole 6. The end of the arm F is provided with suitable connecting means, such as a of the cam faces.

binding screw f engaging in a threaded hole inthc arm F and by means of which the conductor a is electrically connected with the collar E. Any other means for electrically connecting the split shell with a conductor may be employed. The split sleeve is preferably also provided with means for limiting the turning of the sleeve relatively to the insulating member, so that the bearing members of the split sleeve will not move beyond the circumferential length In the construction shown for this purpose one of the bearing members (Z is provided with a hookshaped extension G which projects into a. circumferential slot or groove 9 in the body portion of the plug and which engages the ends of thegroove to limit the turning of the shell.

lJne end of this groove registers with one of the grooves 0 through which the extension G can be passed when the split shell is being placed into its operative position in assembling the parts of the plug. The pass sage b and the split shell D are preferably so arranged relatively to each other that when the shell is in its maximum expanded position, the slit or opening therein will be in registration with the passage 6 as shown in Fig. 7, so that the conductor i)? can be connected with the arm F without making it necessary to dismantle the plug. If de sired, however, the split collar E can be removed, thus withdrawing the arm F from the passage a and by passing the conductor I) through the passage 5 the conductor can i be connected with'the arnrwhile the same is miuals of a socket the usual central removed fromthe passage 6%. The contact end. of the attachment plug is provided with contact piece which is adapted to make contact with one of the terwhen the plug is in place therein. The central contact piece maybe of any suitable construction, but preferably consists of a metal strip I the ends of are bent to enter into undercut and which has a threaded hole adapted to ing screw i by means dpctor b may be of which the corn secured to the contact shell and adapted receive a 'connectpiece. The contact piece when placed on the plug is first arch-shaped as indicated in Fig. 10, so that the ends thereof can be in serted into the notches 7e, and is then pressed into the shape shown in Fig. 11 in which the ends of the contact piece are forced into the notches to hold the contact piece rigidly in place on the plug.

In the use of the connecting device the attachment plug is inserted endwise into a socket or outlet as far as possible, the threads of the split shell slipping over the threads in the socket. \Vhen the plug has con pushed into the socket as far as possible, the plug is turned tl'nrough a part of a revolution, which first causes the threads of the'split shell to move into proper relation to the threads in the socket or outlet and then causes the bearing members of to engage the cam faces to cause the split shell to be expanded and pressed against the threaded part of the socket, thus forming a good contact between these two parts. The turning of the plug also causes the central contact piece to be pressed into engagement with the'corresponding part of the socket, and causes the two flanges e c to be pressed into contact, so that good contacts are insured at all points at which the circuit is completed by contacting parts.

In Figs. 1248 inclusive, a lamp is shown having at its base an attachment plug of somewhat modified construction. In this construction I represents the glass bulb of a lamp in which the usual filament (not shown) is suspended, which is elect ically connected with two wires or conductors 11. The conductors are embedded in the glass at the base of the lamp and one conductor 2' is connected to a central contact piece i of the usual kind. A sleeve or shellK is rigidly secured to the glass of-the base of the lamp and forms therewith the body portion or core of the connecting device. The shell is electrically connected with the other contact 21, and has cam-shapedor eccentric faces is and depressions 1: arranged between the cocentric faces. The shell is provided at its inner end with a flange and at its outer olid with an annular groove 70 and with a flange. it. A threaded split shell L is arranged between the flanges it? and 7c and is held thereby :ilgainst endwise movement. The split shell L provided with bearing members Z securedmn the inner face of the toengagc with the eccentric-faces The split shell is preferably providetl'with an inwardly extending flange Z which enters the groove Ir and Which has an upwardly bent lip or projection Z which extends into a recess Z in the flange k and which limits the movement of the split shell relatively to the fixed shell to prevent thebcaring members from moving through. a. distance greater than the length of the cam faces. In the construction.

of this connecting device, the fixed shell is made with its outecllangc Ki extending substiintially parallel with the body portion thereof as shown in full lines in Fig. 18, and after the split member has been phiced *into its operative position on the fixed shell,

this flange is turned over into the position shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 18, thus holding the split member in place on the fixed member of the base. In the use of this connecting device the lamp base or plug is inserted. into the socket until the central. contact member engages the contact in the socket and the lamp is then turned through a part of the revolution to cause thecom faces to expend the split shell. The hearing members 7, press against the coin faces of the sleeve K and. are pressed against the threaded part of the socket so that a good contact is insured between these three parts.

The attachment plug (lest bed has the advantage that it can he reach: polled to a socket or outlet by merelj' n' ling the plug into the socket or outlet :1 d\ l urning the some thmugh o mrt of: o r .1011, which secures the plug rigidly am. 2 end presses the contacting; parts into engagement that the resistance. to the flow of on electric current through the contacting faces is reduced to s ininil'nnin.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core, and an expansible shell surrounding St'lfl core, said core and shell having parts which operute by relative rotation of the core and shellto expend the shell into holding eugsgei'nent with the socket.

2. In on electrical connecting device a plug adopted to be inserted into a socket.

and comprising :1 core, and 'an cxpansiblc shell surrounding said core and having ports adapted to engage ports in the socket for retainiug the plug in the socket said core havingeccentric faces adopted by turning the core relatively to the shell to expend the shell into holding engagement with the socket.

3.- The combination with it socket, o-fo.

plugedepted to be inserted into the socket and con'iprising o core, on expansihle shell curl-minding Bil-Kl core, and ports on said shell and core which operate by relative 1'0- tatioo ofthe core and shell to expend the lace by relative rotation of the core and shell to .expa'nd the shell into holding engagement an internally scrcwthreaded port, of a plug adapted to be inserted into said socket and comprising a core, and an ex 'iansible screwthreaded' shell surroumlin g said core and adapted to outer said scrcwthreuded socket mulwise when contracted, said core and shell havingparts which operate'by r lative r0- tation of the core and shell to expand the shell for causing the threads of the shell and socket to be pressed into holding engugcment.

6. In on electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into it socket and comprising u core having a coin face, and an expansiblc shell having a part engaging said cam face and a. part aduptedto frictionully engage said socket when inserted cndwise into the socket -and being Jresscd into holdiu" cu owcment with the c-xpzu'isible rounding said core and adapted to be inserted endwise into said socket when contracted, said shell having a part engaging said (rain face and being expanded liyrelutire rotation of the core and shell to press the threads of the shell and socket into holding engagement.

8. The co's'nblnation with a socket, of it plug; comprising :2 core baiting a, cam Face, and on expansible shell surrourulingsaid core and having a. part adapted to engage said can: face and ports adapted to cooperate with parts of the socket for holding the plug in the socket, said plug being adapted to he moved endwise into the socket when the shell is contracted und'to be secured in the socket by relative rota tion of the core and shell which causes the shell to expand and the parts of the shell and socket to be pressed into holding engagement.

ill-In an electrical connecting device, it plug adoptcdto be inserted into :1. socket and. comprising a core, an expunsible shell surrounding'the core, said core and shell.

having parts which operate by relative 11-0 totion of the core and shell to expand the shell: into holding" engagement with the socket, and means for preventing endwise. movei'nent of said shell relative-to sold core.

10. In an electrical connecting device, a. plug adapted'to be inserted into n socket and coinprisin-gm core, on expensible shell surrounding the core, said core and shell having ports which operate by IBlU tIVG 1'0- tation of the core and shell to expand the shell into holding engagementivith the socket, and a collar adapted to engage the shell to limit the endwisc movement thereof and to permit electric current to flow from the shell to the collar.

ll. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to he inserted into a socket and comprising a core o'l? insulating mate rial having passages for cmicluetors, an expansihle shell surrounding the core, said core and shell having parts which operate by relative rotation of the core and shell to expand the shell into holding engagementwith the socket, and acollar secured to said core and having a part extending into one of said passages and connected with a conductor, said collar engaging with said shell to limit the endwisc inoveniei'it of the shell and to IOIHI an electrical connection therewith.

12, In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising; a core of insulating mate rial having passages for conductors, an pansiblc shell surrounding the core, said core and shell havingparts which operate by relative rotation of the core and shell to expand the shell into holding engagement with the socket, and a collar removahly secured on said core and adapted to engage said shell to limit the endivise movement thereof.

13. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a 506k? and comprising a core, an evpansible shell surrounding the core, said core and shell having parts which operate by relative ro-.

tation of the core and shell to expand the shell into holding engagement with the socket, a collar secured on said core, and cooperating parts on said collar and said shell which preventendwisc movement of the shell.

14. In an electrical connecting device, a, plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core of insulating material having passages for conductors, one of said passages terminating in a side of the core, and an expansihle split shell surrounding said core, said core and shell having parts which operate by relative rotation of the core and shell to expand the shell into holding engagement with the socket, said shell having an opening adapted'to register with the end of the passage which terminates in a side ofthe core.

15; In an electrical connecting device, a'

plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core 0 insulating material having passages foii onduetors, one of said passages terminati 1 1 in a side of the core, an expansible splitshell surrounding said core, said core-and .iiell having parts which operate by relatr rotation of the core and shell to expand the shell into holding engagement with the socket, a collar secured on said shell for limiting the endwise movement of said shell and making an. electrical contact therewith, said collar having an arm extending into the passage in the side of the core and connected with a conductor, said shell having an opening adapt ed to register with the end of 'said passage to afford access to said arm.

16. In an electrical connecting device a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core, an expansihle shell surrounding the core, said core and shell having parts which operate by relative rotation of the core and shell to expand the shell into holding engagement vith the socket, means for preventing endwise movement of said shell relative to said core, and means for limiting the rotation of said shell relative to said core.

17. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core having a cam face, an espansible shell havin a part engaging said cani face and being at apted to be expanded by relative rotation of the core and shell to press the shell into holding engagement with the socket, and means on said core and Said shell for limiting the relative rotary movement of said shell and core.

18. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core having acam face, an expansible shell having a part engaging said cam face and being adapted to be expanded by relative rotation of the core and shell to press the shell into holding engagement witlrthe socket, stops on the core, and a projection on said shell adapted to engage said stops for limiting the relative rotary movement of said shell and core.

19. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core having a cam face, an expansihle shell having a part engaging said cam face and being adapted to be pandcd by relative rotation of the core and shell to press the shell into holding engagement with the socket, a slot in saidcore, and a projection on said shell extending into said slot for limiting the relative, rotary movement of said shell and core.

20. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core having a plurality of circumferential cam faces and depressions estending lengthwise of the core, an expansibleshed surroundm the core, and bean ing members on said s iell which engage the cam faces for expandin the shell when the plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core having a plurality of circumferential cam faces and depressions extending lengthwise of'the core between the cam faces, an expansible shell surrounding the core, and bearing members secured to said shell and adapted to enter into said depressions, said bearing members engaging said cam faces and causing the shell to be expanded by relative rotation of the shell and core, and mains on said core to preventendWise movement of the shell on the core.

22. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core having a plurality of circumferentlal cam faces and depressions eX- tending lengthwise of the core between the cam faces, an expansible shell surrounding the core, and bearin members secured to said shell and adapte to enter into said depressions, said bearing members engaging said cam faces and causing the shell to be expanded by relative rotation of the shell and core, and means for limiting the rotary motion of said shell relatively to said core to prevent the bearing members from mov ing through a distance greater than the circumferentlal length of one cam face and one of said depressions.

23. In an electrical connecting device, a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket and comprising a core having a plurality of circumferential cam faces and depressions extending. lengthwise of the core between the cam faces, an expansible shell surrounding the core, and bearin members secured to said shell and adapte to enter into said depressions, said bearing members engaging said cam faces and causing the shell to be expanded by relative rotation of the shell and core, a circumferential groove in said core connecting With one of said depressions, and a pro ect1on on one of said bear-- mg members adapted to enter sa1d groove inner face of a socket when sa1d plug is inserted endwise into said socket, andcotiperating means on said core and said contact member actuated by turning said core for expanding said contact member into firm engagement with said socket.

25. The combination of a plug adapted to be inserted into a socket, and comprising a core, an expansible contact member mounted on said core and adapted to 'yieldingly and frictionally engage the inner face of said socket when said plug is inserted end- Wise into said socket whereby the core may be turned relatively to said frictionally held contact member, and cooperating means on said core and-said contact member actuated by turning said core for expanding said con tact member into firm engagement with said socket.

Witness my hand, this 29th day of October, 1915. v 1 FREDERICK G. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

H. E. Hor'r, H. R. J nrrs. 

